The FreeXperia team, a group of CyanogenMod Xperia Maintainers, has released unofficial builds of CyanogenMod 11 for several Sony Xperia devices for those keen to try out Android 4.4 KitKat before an official, stable version is available. The team recently published early builds of CM11 for the Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia T, and Xperia V, with releases for the Xperia Z1 and Xperia Z Ultra also on the way.

As we know, CM11 is still under development, with no clear time frame for when it will be ready, and so, these early builds for the Xperia devices are potentially unreliable. For now, the ROM may be too unstable to be used as a daily driver. It is therefore not recommended that anyone but the daring try installing it on their device.

Initial reports from XDA members suggest that the latest build for the Xperia Z works great and with very few problems, but caution is advised. As always, we don’t encourage the installation of custom ROMs without a certain amount of technical know-how, and a reminder that going ahead with such an install will void your device warranty.

Those of you who are willing to install the unofficial CM11 builds on their Xperia devices will get to enjoy many of the new features of Android 4.4 KitKat, giving users a taste of the new version of Android long before official update is available from Sony. You can find them here.

Earlier this month Sony confirmed that it was readying Android 4.4 KitKat for the Xperia Z, Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1. At the time, Sony mentioned this would be the “first raft” of products confirmed for an eventual KitKat upgrade, hinting that more would be announced in the future.

Although Sony has yet to officially reveal any details about its “second raft”, Sony’s support page seems confirm that the Sony Xperia SP is getting a future KitKat update, and even hints that at least four more devices may be added to the KitKat list in the near future.

Besides the SP, Sony indicates that a KitKat update is “under investigation” for the Xperia ZR,Xperia T, Xperia TX and Xperia V. While this doesn’t confirm that any of the four “investigated” devices will see KitKat — it’s certainly a good sign.

As for when? That’s when things get a big fuzzier. Sony has yet to reveal any specific target dates for its Android 4.4 KitKat rollout, though more likely it will focus on newer devices like the Sony Xperia Z1 first. Either way, it looks like Sony is taking the Android 4.4 KitKat update seriously and is attempting to bring the tasty treat to as many of its devices as possible.

As always, we’ll be sure to update on the situation as soon as we learn more.

Via: Xperia Blog; ]]>http://www.androidauthority.com/kitkat-sony-plans-319310/feed/15Sony Xperia Z and other high-end models get CyanogenMod 10.1 nightly buildshttp://www.androidauthority.com/sony-xperia-z-cyanogenmod-nightly-191182/
http://www.androidauthority.com/sony-xperia-z-cyanogenmod-nightly-191182/#commentsTue, 16 Apr 2013 02:13:30 +0000http://www.androidauthority.com/?p=191182
Owing to Sony’s efforts to offer the most developer-friendly devices ever, owners of the Sony Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia T, Xperia TX, and Xperia V can now download and enjoy official CyanogenMod 10.1 nightly builds for their handsets. The nightlies first became available yesterday — the very first one being the Xperia ZL nightly — and are all present online now through the CyanogenMod Downloads web site.

What these nightly builds equate to is a chance to load and run the stock Android experience on the above-mentioned Sony Xperia smartphones. All a user needs to do in order to take advantage of the appropriate build is to download it, flash his or her device, and finish installing the custom ROM. And that’s it. CyanogenMod 10.1 is based on the latest version of Android, which is currently at 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

If you plan on getting one or more of the nightly builds for yourself, then just follow the links posted below. And remember that you will need an unlocked bootloader in order to get started.

We’ve seen a lot of new letters in the Xperia alphabet lately. We previously reviewed some of them, such as the Sony Xperia J, Xperia T, and the Xperia TX. Recently, the Sony Xperia V LT25i came along to join the group. The Xperia V does more than improve Sony’s alphabet letter count. This exciting edition is Sony’s 4G LTE-capable, dust-proof, and water-resistant phone.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 continues to sit in the clouds as one of the most popular Android smartphones, reaching 20 million in global sales just a hundred days after initial release. Its current sales have topped 40 million despite the ongoing patent wars.

Does the Galaxy S3 need to worry about the Xperia V’s appearance into the scene? Is the Sony phone amazing enough — in word and in deed — to cause the Galaxy S3 to squirm in its seat of honor? Let’s find out in this comparison review. You can also skip to our comparison video at the end of this article.

(NOTE: In this comparison, the pebble blue model of the international variant of the Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 is compared with the Sony Xperia V LT25i.)

Physical Build and Design

Dimensions and Weight

Galaxy S3

Xperia V

Length

136.6 mm (5.38 in)

129 mm (5.08 in)

Width

70.6 mm (2.78 in)

65 mm (2.56 in)

Thickness

8.6 mm (0.34 in)

10.7 mm (0.42 in)

Weight

133 g (4.69 oz)

120 g (4.23 oz)

The Galaxy S3 and the Xperia V are portable phones. However, I find the Xperia V more portable because of its smaller design and lighter weight. The Xperia V’s whole screen is more accessible to my thumb than the Galaxy S3’s. In addition, the Xperia V has a sturdier build with an Ingress Protection code of IP55 and IP57, which means that dust can’t easily enter its internal parts. The phone is also resistant to low-pressure water sprays and can survive immersion under 1 meter of fresh water for up to half an hour.

Front

Both phones sport different faces: a polished pebble-like front on the Galaxy S3 and a minimalistic industrial design on the Xperia V.

True to its minimalist roots, the Xperia V’s front is all glossy black. Its silver frame protrudes a bit at the bottom side of the phone, giving the Xperia V a narrow chin. There are no physical buttons here; navigation is done through onscreen buttons.

In contrast, the Galaxy S3 has a glossy blue chassis with a brushed metal design. Unlike the Xperia V, this phone uses a physical Home button flanked by the Menu and Back capacitive buttons. The front screen is accented by a blue frame.

All front elements on the Xperia V and Galaxy S3 are found on the top bezel: front camera, earphone piece, logo, light sensors, and notification light.

Sides

The sides of the Galaxy S3 stay consistent with its all-blue design. The sides are protected by a blue plastic frame meeting the phone’s polycarbonate blue-black back cover. The sides are curved and smooth, making the Galaxy S3 comfortable to hold.

In contrast, you’ll find three layers on the Xperia V: a black frame around the touch panel, a silver frame that protects the phone’s body, and the white back cover. I’m not too fond of the silver frame because it lacks a premium feel and the metallic coating looks like something that will peel off in time.

Both phones have the same standard buttons and ports, although these are situated differently on each phone.

On the top side is the headphone jack.

The Galaxy S3 has its Volume keys on the left side. The same side on the Xperia V has its Micro USB port and dock pogo pins.

The Power button sits alone on the Galaxy S3’s right side; the Xperia V’s own right side is a bit busier with the Volume keys and the Power button.

The Galaxy S3’s bottom side has its Micro USB port and microphone hole, while the Xperia V’s own bottom side only has the mic hole.

The Xperia V’s ports are covered by a flap, protecting the phone from dust and water. Added protection is a good thing, but you have to pay the price of having to open those flaps before plugging in your Micro USB cable or headphones. And, if those flaps break, you lose the dust and water-resistant protection of your phone. On the Galaxy S3, the ports are readily accessible not only to you but also to dust and liquids.

Back

The Galaxy S3 has a polycarbonate blue-black back cover with brushed metal design while the Xperia V has a white pearl-like back. Both covers have one thing in common — they are removable. The batteries on both phones are also removable. This means that you can use third-party back covers and replace the batteries on both phones.

Sony deserves some credit for the Xperia V’s removable back, considering that this is a dust and water-resistant phone. When you remove the back cover, you’ll find rubber edging designed to prevent liquid or dust from reaching the battery, microSD card, and SIM compartments.

You’ll see the same elements on both phone’s backs, although they are arranged differently. The Galaxy S3 has the camera flash, rear camera, and the speaker grille aligned horizontally on the top portion of its back cover.

In contrast, all these elements are arranged vertically on the Xperia V. From top to bottom, you can find the rear camera and a small hole for the microphone, the LED flash, the Xperia logo in silver, the tiny hole for the water sensor that Sony uses to measure if the limit for safe operation has been exceeded, and the speaker grille.

The Xperia V’s back also curves slightly towards the center, which makes the phone feel like it is hugging my hand. The Galaxy S3’s back, in contrast, is flat and smooth.

Screen and Display

Galaxy S3

4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED

720×1280 HD resolution

306 ppi

Corning Gorilla Glass 2

Xperia V

4.3-inch TFT LCD

720×1280 HD resolution

342 ppi

Scratch-resistant glass

The Galaxy S3’s screen is half an inch wider than the Xperia V’s but both phones have the same screen resolution. The Xperia V, however, has a higher pixel density. On paper, the Xperia V’s display is sharper and more vivid than the Galaxy S3’s, in real life, I could hardly tell which one is sharper.

The HD Super AMOLED screen on the Galaxy S3 produces vibrant and saturated images. Some may find the display too saturated, but I find the Galaxy S3’s screen okay. In contrast, the Xperia V uses a TFT LCD capacitive touchscreen with Sony’s BRAVIA Engine. This screen produces bright and vibrant images, but they were not as saturated as those on the Galaxy S3. You can disable the BRAVIA Engine, but doing so will render subdued and realistic colors.

Samsung also squeezed some of its display features into the Galaxy S3. For example, you’ll find Smart Stay, an eye detector that keeps the screen on while you’re looking at your phone. There’s Smart Rotation, which scans your face and adjusts the screen’s orientation accordingly. These features use the Galaxy S3’s front camera and need adequate lighting to function.

Processing Power

Galaxy S3

Xperia V

Chipset

Samsung Exynos 4412

Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8960

CPU

quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9

dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait

GPU

Mali-400MP

Adreno 225

RAM

1 GB

1 GB

Internal Memory

16, 32, 64 GB

8 GB

External Memory

up to 64 GB

up to 32 GB

Some people think that quad-core processors are always faster than dual-core processors. One shouldn’t judge a processor by its numbers; optimization should instead be the basis for performance. Even a well-optimized dual-core processor can match a fast quad-core device. One concrete example is the Nexus 10.

A quad-core processor powers the Galaxy S3 and a dual-core processor on the Xperia V. Although both phones differ in the number of cores, the Galaxy S3 and Xperia V performed equally well when we browsed the Web, launched apps, and played HD games. Although I noticed some jitter while scrolling through the Xperia V’s homescreen and App Drawer, it didn’t bother me at all.

For storage, though, the Xperia V is quite limited with only 8 GB of internal storage, but it does have a slot for a microSD card for up to 32 GB additional space. In contrast, the Galaxy S3 has more storage capacity options and can take up to 64 GB of additional space via microSD expansion.

Benchmarks

We did some standard benchmark tests on both phones and got these results:

Galaxy S3

Xperia V

Quadrant

5461

5661

AnTuTu

15689

11075

CF-Bench

13224

9580

Vellamo Mobile Benchmark HTML5

1417

2047

Vellamo Mobile Benchmark Metal

557

608

Geekbench 2

1489

1631

Linpack for Android Single Thread (in MFLOPS)

54.937

150.509

Linpack for Android Multi-thread (in MFLOPS)

460.838

286.361

GLBenchmark 2.5 Egypt HD C24Z16 Offscreen (in fps)

15

12

Nenamark 1 (in fps)

60.0

60.1

Nenamark 2 (in fps)

58.8

60.0

An3DBench

7663

7362

SunSpider 0.9.1 JavaScript (in ms; lower is better)

2036.8

1165.6

BrowserMark 2.0

1881

3092

Google V8 Benchmark Suite

1744

1467

The benchmark tests yielded varying results, although the Galaxy S3 bested the Sony phone in most tests. This means that even if the Xperia V has dual-core processing power, it can still outperform the quad-core phone in some areas.

Battery Life

Both phones use a Li-ion battery with different capacities: 2,100 mAh on the Galaxy S3 and a 1,700 mAh battery on the Xperia V. In theory, the Galaxy S3 should last longer than the Xperia V.

I did an informal battery test to compare the battery life. The test involved enabling battery hungry features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and maximum screen brightness. I also kept the screen on and turned on all sync options. Then, I played a hi-def YouTube video for an hour and then browsed the Internet for another hour.

From a full charge, the Galaxy S3’s battery went down to 61% while the Xperia V’s went down to 48%. You can clearly determine which phone would black out if I went with the test for 2 more hours.

Connectivity

Each phone requires a Micro-SIM card for mobile network connectivity. The SIM trays are underneath the back covers. The Xperia V’s SIM tray, though, is curiously beneath the microSD card slot; you’ll need to pull out the caddy with a fingernail.

Both phones can connect to the Web via 2G, 3G, or Wi-Fi connections. The Xperia V, however, can also connect to 4G LTE, supporting the following LTE bands:

LTE 850 MHz (B5)

LTE 1800 MHz (B3)

LTE 2100 MHz (B1)

LTE 2600 MHz (B7)

Other variants of the Xperia V support other LTE bands, which means owners of the handset can enjoy flexible 4G LTE compatibility. The international Galaxy S3 doesn’t support 4G connection, however some of its variants do (e.g., the GT-I9305).

The Galaxy S3 and Xperia V have the same connectivity features as those on most high-end smartphones, such as:

Bluetooth

Wi-Fi Direct

NFC

DLNA

Syncing screen to an HDTV

Standard Micro USB port for transferring files

Camera

Both phones’ Camera apps are flexible and easy to use. I particularly like how these Camera apps let you scale down images or videos to be captured. Both Camera apps have essential features for photoholics such as:

5 white balance presets

Selection of photo effects

Different ISO values

Exposure values

Geotagging

Image stabilization

In addition to those essential features, each Camera app has unique features to make it better than the other. On the Galaxy S3, for example, you’ll find these:

Burst Shot — captures multiple pictures with one tap of the Shutter button

Best Photo — selects the perfect photo from a series of Burst Shot images

Best Face — lets you select a set of pre-captured images

Share Shot — shoot images and share them instantly via Wi-Fi Direct

Voice enabled controls — control the camera using your voice

Meanwhile, the Xperia V has the following camera features:

Quick launch — set a predefined action when launching the camera from the lockscreen

The Galaxy S3 has an 8-megapixel camera with a CMOS sensor. The Xperia V, in contrast, has a 13-megapixel camera, coupled with a Sony Exmor-R sensor. But, then again, higher-megapixel cameras don’t necessarily produce better images. Megapixels never indicate photo quality. Rather, image quality highly depends on the camera’s sensors.

Let’s compare some photos captured by the Galaxy S3 and the Xperia V.

In the shots above, I prefer the image from the Galaxy S3. The image is sharper and more vibrant than the image captured by the Xperia V.

For indoor shots like those above, the Xperia V’s photo’s colors were more subdued than the Galaxy S3’s image.

In low-light settings, the Xperia V produced a brighter yet noisier image.

Camera performance on both phones were actually fast in bright settings. In low-light conditions, though, it took time for both cameras to focus and capture an image.

For video chatting and vanity shots, the Galaxy S3 has a 1.9-megapixel front camera while the Xperia V has a VGA front camera. Let’s see how these two front cameras fared.

The Galaxy S3 produced an acceptable image while the Xperia V’s was a bit blurry and fuzzy, and the colors weren’t accurate.

In low-light settings, the Galaxy S3 still produced an acceptable shot while the Xperia V’s own shot was very subdued and noisy.

Both phones can record 1080p Full HD videos. The Xperia V’s autofocus, however, is rather slow. The Xperia’s camcorder produced blurry videos when I moved from one spot to another.

Media Playback

You can watch videos through the Galaxy S3’s Video Player app and the Xperia V’s Movies app. Both video players are simple and can play 1080p Full HD videos without breaking a sweat. I also like the unique interface of both video player apps.

The Video Player app on the Galaxy S3 displays video thumbnails on a grid. The thumbnails are not static; they play previews of the videos. The Galaxy S3’s video player also allows you to take snapshots of the video you’re watching or, with the help of the Pop-up Play feature, to multitask while watching your video.

Meanwhile, the Movies app on the Xperia V displays a preview of the video that you last watched, as well as the time remaining. Viewing a video will display an image thumbnail and a brief description about the video (if available) from Gracenote. It actually feels like I’m in the cinema when watching videos through this app.

You can also find simple video players in each phone’s photo album/gallery app.

For music playback, the Galaxy S3 comes with the Music Player app while the Xperia V has the WALKMAN app. Both apps group your music according to songs, playlist, artist, albums, and more. They both have 5-band equalizers and equalizer presets to refine audio quality.

The Xperia V, however, has even more features that enhance your music experience:

The sound quality of both phones’ loudspeakers is good. The Xperia V’s sound output, however, is louder compared to the Galaxy S3’s, but distortion was also more evident. I recommend using headphones for listening to music on both phones.

Software

When it was first released, the Galaxy S3 ran on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. It then received its Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update that brought additional goodies.

Meanwhile, the Xperia V is still running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich, but Sony is currently pushing the Android 4.1.2 update for this phone in select countries. Each phone runs on Android, with its respective custom OEM skin giving it a unique look, as well as a set of unique features: the Touchwiz Nature UX on the Galaxy S3 and Timescape UI on the Xperia V. Let’s take a glimpse at the look and feel of both phones’ interfaces.

Lockscreen

Right from the Galaxy S3’s lockscreen, you instantly get a taste of the nature-inspired TouchWiz UI. Tapping the lockscreen shows you ripple effects. To unlock the phone, just swipe anywhere. For easy access, you can place several app shortcuts here and you can launch the app by dragging its shortcut across the screen. The notification menu can be accessed even when the phone is locked.

The Xperia V’s lockscreen is a lot simpler. You get a slider with buttons for unlocking the phone and for Quick Launch. Just drag the lock icon towards the unlock icon to unlock the phone. Drag the Quick launch icon to the opposite side of the slider to perform the predefined Quick Launch Camera action. You can also swipe the Digital Clock widget leftwards to reveal the music player on the lockscreen. The notification menu is inaccessible from the lockscreen.

Homescreen

On the homescreens of both phones, you can group your favorite contacts, place widgets, or decorate the screen with the background of your choice. Homescreen layout is similar on both phones: status bar at the top edge of the screen and App Dock bar below.

The App Dock contains 4 app shortcuts and one button for the App Drawer. The location of the App Drawer button, however, differs on both phones: it’s in the middle of the Xperia V’s App Dock while the Galaxy S3 has it on the rightmost side.

The Xperia V gives you only 5 homescreen pages to play with, but the Galaxy S3 gives you two more (for a total of 7). You also get a cool flipping animation when you navigate through the Galaxy S3’s homescreens.

Multitasking

Android is quite flexible at multitasking, and custom OEM skins often add to the basic functions that barebones Android provides.

On the Galaxy S3, you have the following:

Recent Apps menu — long tap Home button to open menu; swipe left/right to remove apps or tap to switch between apps; contains toggle buttons for task manager, Google Now, and delete all recent apps

Multi Window — open two apps simultaneously by splitting the screen; long tap Back key to open Multi Window bar

Pop-up Play — plays and overlays video on a floating mini video player

Page buddy — a special home screen page appears when connecting earphones, while docked, or when the phone is set to roaming

Notifications

The Notification Shade is a common heritage on every Android phone, but it can vary in design and in how notifications are managed.

The Galaxy S3 has taken on the style of the Jelly Bean Notification Shade with some TouchWiz UI modifications. This notification menu has toggle buttons for most accessed Settings options. You can change the order and choices of toggle buttons on the Settings menu. A brightness slider is also present here. Notifications are grouped according to app. You can expand a notification to view more details by swiping the notification downwards with two fingers; swipe upwards to collapse. Some notifications are actionable, allowing you to perform actions right on the menu. To remove notifications, either swipe left or right or tap the Clear button to remove all notifications.

Things are much simpler on the Xperia V. The Notification Shade has toggle buttons for sounds, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, mobile data connection, and a shortcut for the Settings menu. You cannot change or add toggle buttons. Notifications are also grouped according to app, but you cannot expand or collapse notifications. Notifications are also not actionable. Gestures for dismissing notifications are similar to those for the Galaxy S3.

App Drawer

Your apps in the Galaxy S3 and Xperia V are stored inside the App Drawer. By default, your apps are arranged on a 5×4 grid. You can also customize the look and arrangement of apps in the App Drawer.

The only major difference between the two App Drawers is that the Xperia V doesn’t have a dedicated tab for Widgets inside the App Drawer. You also cannot hide apps or display downloaded apps; the Galaxy S3 is capable of those.

Widgets

On the Galaxy S3, you can find widgets inside the App Drawer. Hold down on a widget and drop it on any empty spot on the homescreen.

On the Xperia V, there is no Widgets tab inside the App drawer. Instead, access the list of widgets by tapping on an empty spot on the homescreen and then tapping the plus button at the upper-right corner. You’ll be shown a list of widgets and app shortcuts.

Personalization

Both the Galaxy S3 and Xperia V inherit the personalization features of stock Android, plus a few extras thrown in.

The Galaxy S3 has the following features:

Two homescreen modes

Changing the font style

4 screen modes

Motion gestures

Changing or rearranging toggle buttons on the Notification Shade

Meanwhile, the Xperia V has the following:

Applying themes

Customizing keyboard layout and adding additional keys

Enhancing photos and videos with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2

Changing keyboard layout and skins

Keyboard

Both keyboards have the essential core features such as multilingual support, word prediction, auto correction, voice-to-text, and gesture typing.

Although having similar features, the Galaxy S3’s keyboard is definitely smarter than the Xperia V’s because of advanced Text Prediction. This feature studies the way you type. You can even log-in to your Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail accounts and let the app study your word use. With smarter prediction, tap- or swipe-typing becomes quicker on the Galaxy S3.

Meanwhile, the Xperia’s keyboard focuses more on style and suiting the taste of the user. The keyboard has the Personalization wizard that helps you through a series of steps for customizing the keyboard. You can set which buttons to add on the keyboard, select a keyboard layout, and select keyboard skins.

Search

Since the Galaxy S3 runs Jelly Bean, this phone uses Google Now as its default search app. This search app is now smarter because it automatically flashes reminders or alerts. Results are displayed on flashcards. You can also use Google’s voice search to search for terms, launch an app, call a contact, set reminders, and more. You also get a voice-activated assistant called S Voice.

Meanwhile, the Xperia V uses Google Search as its default search app but it’s not as smart as Google Now. You can also use voice commands such as that for getting directions, calling contacts, and doing a web search. The Xperia V doesn’t have a voice-activated assistant.

Security

The Galaxy S3 and the Xperia V have inherited the same security features of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung, however, has added a few more security measures of its own, such as:

Motion unlock

Face and Voice unlock

remote controls via SamsungDive

Updating Process

Meanwhile, the Xperia V prompts you when an update becomes available, but to be able to install system updates, you need to connect the phone to a computer on which the Windows-exclusive PC Companion software must be installed. And, I find this rather frustrating, especially since I use a Linux machine for work.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes in 16-, 32-, and 64-gigabyte models variants in select countries for about US$550, US$680, and US$800 respectively. Meanwhile, the Xperia V is available through some mobile carriers at an estimated price range of about US$500 to US$600.

Video Review

Check out our comparison video for the Galaxy S3 and Xperia V.

Conclusion

Both the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Xperia V are excellent and well-crafted phones. Both have distinct designs that can certainly compete with the hottest smartphones on the market. I was impressed by the hardware and performance on both phones. Each phone, however, has unique features that are worth pointing out.

With media consumption in mind, I like the Xperia V for its WALKMAN and Movies app. The music player contains tons of features that let me tune and personalize my phone according to my music taste and preference. I particularly like the cinema-like theme on its video player. More importantly, you get 4G LTE capability, plus protection from dust and water, all in a small and portable phone.

Owing to its quad-core processor, the Galaxy S3 is perfect for multitasking. This beast is perfect for power users and mobile gamers. It is also ideal for those who frequently need multitasking features. I also like the smoothness and features of Jelly Bean, plus the convenience of Google Now and the voice assistant S Voice.

At the end of the day, you will need to choose which phone provides the best balance of performance and features suited to your intended use for it. Which phone is best for you? Is it the popular and powerful Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-I9300? Or the water-resistant and LTE-capable Xperia V LT25i? Tell us by voting in the polls and leaving a comment below.

Sony France recently mentioned in a tweet its intention to launch the Sony Xperia V in March, backtracking on the earlier promise to have the device available in stores by January 2013. With all the hype surrounding the Sony Xperia Z and Xperia ZL, I’m sure you’ll need a refresh about a device that was launched in (the rest of) Europe in December last year.

Android 4.0.4 out of the box (upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean already available in other countries)

Water resistant

With Sony going full steam ahead preparing for the launch of the Sony Xperia Z and the Xperia ZL, the obvious question that comes to mind is “Why now?” While the 2013 flagships are obviously far better devices, the Xperia V could work as a mid-range alternative, similar to what HTC had done last year with its One series. The Xperia V could easily be considered a mid-range version of the Xperia Z, with the fact alone that both devices are waterproof.

Further, the issue of pricing comes into question. Considering the current price of the Xperia V in other European countries, the device could cost around €400 and €500, far cheaper than the Xperia ZL and Xperia Z. So at the end of the day, the delay does somewhat make sense, or at least, things seemed to have worked out that way.

What are your thoughts? Smart planning or just things falling into place better than expected? Would you consider buying the Sony Xperia V?

Although we didn’t really need Sony to tell us Jelly Bean is currently “buttering up” the Xperia T and V, it’s nice to hear that the reports we’ve been getting for a week or so are the result of an organized software rollout.

The confirmation has come via a post on Sony Mobile’s blog, where TX’s Android 4.1 fate has also been cleared up. Xperia T’s slimmer brother is in for the software bump as well, but it’ll have to wait until “next month”.

If you’re yet to get the official invite to the Jelly Bean party over-the-air, you might want to perform a manual check for updates on your T or V. If that doesn’t change anything, you should also try to upgrade using the PC companion software or the Bridge app for Mac.

Ultimately, if nothing helps, you can’t do much else than wait it out, because unfortunately these things come in waves and, according to Sony, “the rollout will continue to ramp up over this month and next”.

Oddly, there’s no mention whatsoever of the AT&T’s Xperia TL, despite it being almost identical to the T and TX hardware-wise. Bummer, we know, but try to not lose hope, as something tells us the TL should be upgraded to 4.1 in time for April Fools as well.

As for the update’s changelog, that includes all the basics, like Google Now and the usual performance enhancements, but also a bunch of Sony-specific tweaks. You’ll get “more intuitive versions” of the Walkman, Album and Movies apps, a revamped homescreen and improved camera functionality among others.

Sounds awesome, but how does it feel first-hand? That is, if you’ve got the Jelly Bean fever.

Last week, Sony gave Xperia T owners a surprise by pushing out the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to the phone earlier than previously scheduled. Now, the same Jelly Bean update is making its way to the Xperia V (LT25i).

For now, the update is live for folks in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and Singapore. It’s possible that more countries will join the list soon. Those who have made the jump to Jelly Bean reported that the update brings the phone’s firmware to version 9.1.A.0.490.

We’re not sure if you can grab the new firmware via OTA, but a lot of folks seem to receive the upgrade via Sony PC companion software. Since there doesn’t seem to be any official changelog yet, we also can’t tell whether or not the JB update will fix the “Sleep of Death” bug that’s plaguing the device.

With the Xperia V receiving its Android 4.1.2 update, this leaves the Xperia TX as the odd one out. Hopefully we’ll hear more good news in the coming days.

Did you get Jelly Bean yet on your phone? Let us know in the comments below.

An increasing number of Xperia V users have been complaining about a so called “Sleep of Death” bug recently, which has been plaguing their handsets for over a month. One of the threads about the issue over on the official Sony Mobile forum has now reached over 100 comments and more than 15,000 page views, so it appears to be a pretty common problem.

The Sleep of Death issue occurs when a handset fails to wake up once it goes into standby mode, requiring users to restart their phone by taking the battery out before they can regain functionality.

Irritatingly for Sony Xperia V customers, Sony has known about the issue since early December, just shortly after the phone first went on sale. But as of yet they have failed to release a fix for the issue, and have remained relatively silent about the problem.

Sony developers have stated that they are investigating the issue with a “high priority” and that they will let users know if they discover a fix or any useful information, but that was on the 10th January and there has been no further official communication about the bug. The only advice offered by Sony so far is to boot the handset into safe mode to avoid the issue, but users have been reporting that this doesn’t help.

If anyone is currently experiencing the SoD bug or has come across a similar problem on a different handset, let us know if there’s a way to help limit the occurrence of the bug until Sony can fix the issue.

It’s been a while since I handled a Sony phone. Back in the mid 2000s, I was a big fan of the Sony Ericsson line of Walkman phones and had plenty of fun taking quite high quality photos with the Cybershot versions. As the smartphone market grew, function specific devices like those Sony used to put out became less and less common – unfortunately, it seems that the same goes for Sony phones in general.

At least that is my perspective in the United States. Underneath the onslaught of wonderful devices from the top companies like Samsung, Apple, and HTC, it would seem that the Playstation manufacturer has not been able to reach the same kind of zenith as its competitors. Though I know that Sony is indeed enjoying success outside of the States, I couldn’t help but wonder why they weren’t more popular here.

Which makes this a pretty exciting moment for me, because the Sony Xperia V beckons. From a line of smartphones predicated on its connection to their gaming networks, the Xperia V does seem to have some of the old function-specific spirit I remember. But Sony has been able to put even more features into at least this particular version of its smartphone that they hope will sweeten the pot.

You get the picture even before opening the box – sprawled on the front of is a picture of the V riddled with water like a window. A couple extra blue-colored pictures of my new smartphone coming into contact with water serve as reminders of what is explained quite well within the manual: “protected against the effects of immersion in water in depths of between 0 and 100 cm for up to 30 minutes.”

It might not be the most exciting feature to come along in a smartphone, but it is certainly a feather in its cap – and of course I’m going to throw this phone in some water. Read on for my review of this water-resistant phone and watch the video at the end to see my thoughts on the Sony Xperia V.

Look and Feel

Here at Android Authority we love the design of Sony phones and have often stated that they are some of the best looking phones out there. As a first time Xperia user with the V, I would have to agree, given this device. It has a very nice, sleek look that echoes the style that we are used to from a company like Sony.

The front is as typical as ever, featuring a black slate consisting of the 4.3 inch display and black bezel surrounding it. At the top is the phone speaker grill with the front facing camera on the left and a notification light found on the top right.

If you happen to be used to the most common button layouts found on Samsung and now LG phones, the one found on the Xperia V might feel a little odd. All of the buttons are found on the right side, as the volume rocker is smaller than usual and right underneath it is an equally small power button. This allows for everything to be accessible from the right thumb, though I suppose left handed people might have to use their index fingers to wrap around and get to the buttons. The buttons and the bezel that houses them are, quite literally, a silver lining found all around the device that separate the black screen front from the white cover back.

Opposite the buttons is the charging port, protected by a small cover that can be nicked out of place in order to reveal what is underneath. The same covering is found on the top of the device, protecting the headphone jack. These covers obviously lend themselves to the waterproofing of the Xperia V, but I have had problems in the past with these types of covers – use them too much and it is possible that they can not be worn down, but they can actually sometimes snap off. Keeping them sealed helps keep the water out, but if they break off, your waterproofing is foiled.

Coming around the back, a simplistic but elegant white detachable cover is found. ‘XPERIA’ is just above center with the camera with flash up top and the speaker slit found on the bottom. This bottom portion of the back protrudes out from underneath the front bezel, giving this phone a unique design aside from the all-inclusive black bricks that we’re used to in currently popular devices.

The entire back is slightly curved, allowing for more girth in the top and bottom portions. This attributes to the pretty balanced feel of the device – it is easy to feel a lightness from the middle portion of the phone that is countered by the weight at top and bottom. The result is a phone that feels sturdy in the hand without feeling like a brick.

Having a 4.3 inch screen might yield only a .4 difference with the market’s larger and more popular phones, but that near half inch does help. This phone will likely be just the right size for most all users, and that is quite the happy medium. What we end up having here, then, is a wonderful looking phone with some unique trim that feels great in the hand.

Screen and Display

4.3 inches might not sound as appealing as the display offerings found on other devices, but rest assured that Sony has the capability to create a nice viewing experience on their Xperia phones.

The TFT capacitive display found the Xperia V is capable of displaying 16,777,216 colors at 1280×720 resolution with a pixel density of 342 ppi. That pixel density is nothing to brush off, as this display is thus quite sharp and renders text very well.

Multi-touch is also available here, but the reason why I mention it is because the Xperia V is capable of registering up to 10 touches simultaneously. I do not know, for the life of me, how to even get 10 fingers onto a display this size (let alone, even a screen like that found on the Nexus 7, for example) but the touch capabilities do seem to check out. Having the touches enabled in Developer Settings shows that all five of my at-once presses have been registered.

All put together, this display does a good job of relaying an enjoyable experience. It isn’t the brightest display I have ever worked with, but its highest setting was more than adequate for viewing in broad daylight. Perhaps this is the result of a perception skewed by the theme consisting primarily of white and grey tones, but I felt that the actual colors lacked a bit of vibrancy. Colors don’t quite jump out of the screen the way that I am used to them doing on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3 (which, admittedly, has an overly colorful theme compared to the Xperia V).

It is also worth mentioning that because there are no capacitive buttons found underneath the screen, the Xperia OS uses soft keys in the same manner as vanilla Android. This line of keys does take up a little bit of real estate on the screen, which may be a little discouraging for those looking to take full advantage of an already smaller-than-usual display. Personally, however, I do not think that the soft keys are much of a bother at all, here or on any Nexus device.

Ultimately, you get a very good viewing experience on a very capable screen. It might not pop as loudly or as vividly as some other displays, but the sharpness in text and crispness in textures are definitely worth the 16M colors and very decent pixel density. It’s not the biggest screen on a smartphone out there, but I think a lot of people will come to view the 4.3 inch screen as a nice and more than adequate medium.

Hardware and Battery

And so we come to the hardware, all tucked away in a casing that is supposed to waterproof all the power underneath. Even if all the various bits of this phone seem to be sealed off, it isn’t hard to take out the layers and find a few pleasant surprises underneath.

We’ll start with the obvious portions, as I have mentioned before that the cover on the Xperia V is indeed detachable. When popped off, what you find under the Xperia branding is a removable/replaceable battery of 1750mAh capacity and two slots nestled in one little nook – one for the microSD expansion slot and the microSIM tray.

As I have learned with the reviews I have done for Android Authority, the battery and expandable memory seem to be the wild cards for many users in terms of purchasing a new device. Current top-tier devices, surprisingly enough, often don’t take SD cards and seal away the battery for a unibody finish. I used to chalk this up to the manufacturer’s desire to keep the design of the phone as simple as possible, as these features can sometimes add girth to already large devices; but in the case of the Xperia V, I have been proven wrong. Having the SIM and SD slots in the same nook and then under the detachable cover allows this phone to retain a sleek and very minimalistic look. And on top of all that, the color is capable of sealing the device from water damage? That is nothing short of a feat, in my book. And with only 8GB of onboard memory available, you probably will come to appreciate the expandability even more.

As far as the battery goes, its capacity coupled with whatever optimizations Sony has managed to put into its dual core 1.5 GHz Krait Snapdragon processor affords the Xperia V decent longevity. While not tested with the 4G LTE running (I use T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network on my SIM), my usual battery drain test was able to bring this one down to half battery in around three and a half hours. Decent enough for a battery its size, though having the ability to replace the battery is definitely a blessing. I imagine 4G LTE connectivity in the background will skew this result further, but nonetheless, you should be able to get through a whole day on this battery with few problems. Perhaps enabling the Extended Standby Mode in the Power Management settings would help those looking for a lot more life in the long run.

Aside from the memory and battery, this phone has your standard bells and whistles – NFC, Bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi connectivity. I do have to mention, as I touched upon just earlier, that this is a phone geared for LTE coverage. I was excited to use my T-Mobile microSIM card in this device, only to be thwarted from using fast data connections because of this phone’s lack of support for HSPA+. LTE is available in my area, but not for this carrier. I am sure that with the right phone service, the Xperia V’s true potential can be realized.

Sound is pretty impressive on all fronts with this phone, as calls came out loud and clear without any problems. It is the media speaker that I was impressed with, however, as I was taken aback by just how powerful it is. A game of Jetpack Joyride at full blast actually put some strain on my ears. It isn’t the fullest or most dynamic sound, but it gets the job done better than a number of devices I have tested with weaker speakers.

If it hasn’t already been made clear, the Sony Xperia V definitely has a lot to offer its users. 8GB of available memory might not be very appealing, but having an expandable memory slot is. Battery life is decent at best, but being able to replace it on the fly is a very welcome capability. All of this is tucked under a shell that protects it all from the harmful effects of water, so even if you drop your phone in a puddle, it should be able to bounce right back. That test is coming up.

Performance

As has been a trend for Sony smartphones, this Xperia V uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor – in this case, the Krait variation at clocked out at 1.5GHz. This should provide a nice usage experience as well as some decent multitasking with 1GB of RAM included. Video and graphics performance is bolstered by an Adreno 225, as well, so gaming and video viewing should get a much needed boost.

These might not be the best specifications in the market right now, but the translation into practice is quite good – for the most part. While the Xperia V certainly doesn’t belong in the top-most tier of current Android devices, it also doesn’t deserve to be considered one of the worst. On the contrary, the phone works quite well without too much lag when opening apps and running more intensive tasks. Even the startup time of the Xperia V is impressive, as the boot up took no longer than about a minute to complete. Of course, this startup time could change with the installation of more applications and modules.

As I had originally expected, the Sony Xperia V is nestled right alongside the higher mid-tier devices in benchmark tests. AnTuTu gave it just above the 10000 mark, quite average given that some of the best devices get close to breaking the 20000 threshold. The rankings are largely the same with Quadrant and Vellamo, putting the Xperia V just around the mark where the original HTC One X currently sits.

Ultimately, the performance aspect of this phone is just above average, at best. The average user will not have any qualms regarding the speed or usage of their Xperia V, though it certainly can’t hold a candle to the likes of the Nexus 4 and even the slightly aged Galaxy S3. The lag might be slightly noticeable even when scrolling through homescreens (especially if content in a widget hasn’t been loaded yet) and when navigating through various functions of the phone, but you should be able to get through your tasks with some ease.

Camera

We then come over to the camera – if you are like me and used to have a Cybershot Sony Ericsson phone, then this might be an interesting prospect. After all, Sony has a pedigree of great camera optics that have made their mid-2000s phones hot items.

The Xperia V camera comes with an impressive 13 megapixels – with the industry standard being 8, this is certainly one aspect of Sony’s phone that trumps much of the competition. However, megapixels don’t tell the story when it comes to quality, and hopefully the optics at f/2.4 will bring some good quality pictures even under average lighting.

I am delighted to report that the camera on the Xperia V actually lives up to these specs and expectations. All of the following shots were done under indoor lighting without scene manipulation – meaning the lights are either the ones already found within my residence or the sunlight emanating from the windows. In the shot below, you can see how having a low aperture allows for a good depth of field. Only the particular portion I touch-focused in the orange is in focus while the rest of the scene doesn’t have the same focus. Disregard the fringe on the bottom left – that is my finger.

Click to see the full picture.

Playing with depth of field is a typical trope for photographers, so having an actually fast and responsive touch-induced focusing system helps make the Xperia V’s camera excel. Here’s one for all you Instragram foodies – the low aperture helps me to flush out the background a bit to keep the food as the main focus. This is done without Instagram’s filters or selective focus tools.

Click to see the full picture.

In the following shot, I was able to capture a lovely orchid under the sun rays emanating through the nearby window. The color of the purple pedals is quite detailed and nicely rendered without being too washed out. The green leaves underneath are just as detailed and you can see how the stick on the side is also in focus, giving more of an example of the benefit to a low aperture lens.

Click to see the full picture.

And finally, a nice close up shot of a battery. It doesn’t sound all too exciting, but Eneloop batteries have a nice design and come in nice colors. This light blue battery was right up to the lens, prompting the Superior Auto feature of the camera to automatically select Macro Mode for this shot. Given the low light in my room, the flash also went off – it first synched by flashing once and then took the picture with a less powerful blast. The result is this macro shot that was clear and actually turned out a little artistic.

Click here for the full picture.

The app itself, although based upon the Ice Cream Sandwich version, has a look that is a little bit like the Jelly Bean camera. Instead of using separation bars for menus, which could sometimes skew your perception of the shot through your viewfinder, the various settings are simply overlays as the whole display is thus used for framing your scene. Press on any of the buttons and you will be given an easy view of your options. As far as settings go, HDR is available as well as Panorama and various toy effect modes. Touch capture is available, so you don’t have to use the shutter button – and if you are into video, this camera can capture Full HD 1080p footage.

All in all, the camera is a very good performer that is sure to please almost any smartphone shutterbugs out there. In line with the photography philosophy I adopt, in which ‘the best camera you have is the one on you,’ this camera can certainly be one of your best companions.

Software

As I just mentioned, the Xperia V is a little bit behind in the Android game because it is sporting 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. This might be an aging operating system, but it still works well under the phone’s processing power and is kept pretty fresh due to some added features.

Before we get into that, however, we should look through some of the features that Sony has retained from Google’s own vanilla OS. As detailed earlier, Sony’s smartphone uses the contextual soft keys that Nexus devices utilize in lieu of dedicated, capacitive keys. The Xperia V even hearkens back to older days with its lockscreen that is simply a left and right slider for unlocking and launching the camera, respectively.

When it comes to general aesthetic, I have to say that Sony’s custom UI is a little lacking. While there are some themes built-in to choose from, the default ‘Sapphire’ looks a little too much like the original Ice Cream Sandwich – grey tones with blue neon – to really stand out. While the app drawer and notification dropdown might include some changes, there isn’t much else to it than that. The lack of customization compared to other user interfaces like TouchWiz, Sense, and Optimus make the Xperia V’s operating system more akin to vanilla Android than its own unique entity. While I prefer the original Android experience most, it isn’t what I expect from a non-Nexus device.

Luckily, Sony has been able to remedy this by adding functionality over aesthetic. The first thing a user might notice is a different looking recent apps screen. Hit the key and you get a quick line of your most recently used applications, but at the bottom you see some icons for various extra functions. These are called Small Apps, and are Sony’s way of adding more multitasking within its user interface. While more can be installed from the Play Store, the ones installed include a calculator, note taker, and a quick timer. These are actually pretty useful ways of getting some tasks done quickly while you are in the middle of doing something else.

And finally, there is the Xperia/Playstation connection. This is one of the Playstation Certified devices and thus should be able to access and run content from Sony for gaming fun. I checked on the accessibility of such content and was able to install the dedicated Playstation Store app directly from Sony, but the games within did not include the ones I wanted to play (Tekken, for one). Even if just for the purposes of this test, I would have loved to put down a little bit of money to try out a Playstation game on a handheld like this, but I guess it isn’t meant to be – such titles are probably only available for the Xperia Play and PS Vita anyway. If you really want to try some of the (mostly) generic content available in the PSM Store, you can – but you might be better off just sticking to the Android tried-and-true classics.

So, with Small Apps and Playstation Certification, there is already some good added functionality and then the hope for future potential built into Sony’s version of Android Ice Cream Sandwich. It isn’t the most unique or even prettiest user interface out there, but it does get the job done and is, to its credit, simplistic enough to avoid being called ugly. Transitions between screens and functions are nice and smooth, so the navigation experience is far from flawed – there just isn’t enough to deem this a truly unique, truly Sony-esque way of using your phone.

Waterproof Test

And now we finally come to the part you’ve all been waiting for – well, at least I have. While this feature might have been already available in the Xperia acro S and the Xperia Active, I was given some affirmation to how much more effective the waterproofing is on this phone than those other two models. Apparently it isn’t only supposed to withstand a good splashing, but even a full immersion into a small body of water.

A couple videos found online show tests of the Xperia V in even a full cup of liquid, so I will go one step further and make this device go swimming with the fishes. Okay, I don’t actually have any fish; but I used to, and its former home will be the site of my waterproof test. Because of the depth this phone will go, I will shorten the 30 minute limit and let it go for 10 minutes.

Perhaps miraculously, the phone remained on and even played the next video in the playlist after my intro (see the video review for that). I turned off the screen timeout and watched as the phone remained powered on for the duration of its swim. This was awesome to watch and a lot of fun to do, as I even reached into the bowl at one point to wake up the phone again. Using the screen underwater, however, is not possible – the touch registration of the screen seems to be completely shut off once it knows it is submerged in water.

After taking out the phone, I was able to wake it back up get right into Fruit Ninja. Nearly all of my presses were registered flawlessly. I was able to get through a quick round even with the phone dripping wet and my fingers damp from the usage. This waterproofing is nothing short of a feat, and I am now very confident that even in the pouring rain or after an unfortunate spill at a restaurant or bar, a quick wipe down is all that is needed to get this phone back to tip top shape.

Price Point and Conclusion

I have to say that while much of what makes smartphones top-tier devices might not be included in the Sony Xperia V, there is an aspect to this phone I cannot deny – it is damn fun to use. From the looks alone, you are already getting a feeling of style from the Xperia V, and with its great camera and expandable memory, the possibilities for a media and photography person like me are quite endless.

It might not have the most updated Android OS or even have an interface that is completely unique, but the Xperia V totally makes up for these shortcomings by excelling in a number of other ways. And you have to admit, there is something really cool about knowing your phone can withstand a dip in a glass of water, a fish bowl, or even a pool. Those with butterfingers might truly appreciate a phone that can withstand some clumsy falls into puddles or spills on countertops.

All in all, I have to give the Xperia V a lot of credit for reminding me how good Sony can be at creating phones. This isn’t even the James Bond phone that many people are raging about, but I am just as jazzed about the V as they are. The camera reminds me of the days when I’d look at the new Sony Ericsson Cybershot phones and feel a lot of phone envy, the design is almost quintessentially Sony and is nothing short of sleek and stylish, and thus the overall package is definitely worth a look alongside our current Android champions.

The Xperia V is currently seeing a delay in Europe and some parts of Asia – it is unknown what kind of release it will see in the United States, if at all. Nonetheless, this phone is available unlocked at around $500 price point. We’ll cross our fingers that this very worthwhile release by Sony makes it to phone carriers in the States – and perhaps at that point the price will be a little be easier to handle. I do believe that the features the Xperia V excels in are worth the extra investment (especially when you are getting a phone with such great weather and splash sealing) but even I would have a difficult time stomaching such a high price point.

How about you? How does the Xperia V look to you? Let us know in the comments below and don’t forget to check out the video review, in which you can actually see me testing the phone’s waterproofing!

Meet the Sony Xperia V, otherwise known now as the otherJames Bond phone. Yes, Sony has decided to wipe clean months of marketing brainwashing by blessing the Xperia V with the “Bond” moniker, at least in Singapore.

Seeing that those gadget-hungry folks in Lion City won’t be getting the Sony Xperia T, we sort of understand why Sony had to choose the next best thing to carry the “James Bond” branding torch. The 4G-enabled Xperia V will be released in Singapore on December 8 for S$698 (US$573), while the 3G variant will come to Malaysia next week and Indonesia early next year.

In other related news, the Sony Xperia V is already available in Sweden, where it can be had unlocked for a rather pricey SEK 5,290 ($800). The phone is expected to land in Russia in mid-December for 24,990 roubles ($810).

In case you’re wondering, the Xperia V will only ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, though an upgrade to Jelly Bean has been scheduled in Q1 2013.